The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-31
SENSATION EXPLODED
fhe Journal Falls Again to Prove Crooked
mesa at the Insane Hospital.
strawberries Purchased at the Regular
Market Price, "a Cents a Gallon or
Sc 72 per Boshel.
"A Big Gonee on the state. -

"A Big Gouge on the state"
more CToOkednees Discovered In the Insane
Hospital Contract System"
estate Auditor Carr finds Vouchers Showing
that the Trustees Paid 81 p a Gallon for Straw
berries Worth Only 81 cents.''
The above startling headlines revealed
the character of another sensational arti-
Gle on the Insane Hospital management
which appeared in yesterdays Journal.
Like the series of alleged disclosures pre-
ceeding This one, there 10 absolutely moth
in it. The gist of the Journals charge
this time was, that John Pierson, farmer
living near the Hospital, had in June last
been paid $776.56 for strawberries worth
but SOL 20. In an attempt to prove that
Pierson had been paid nine times
more than the contract price for
berries-based on a statement by Trus-
80 cents per gsllon"-the Journal
published what pUrported to be a copy of
q voucher on file in the State Auditors
Office, showing that 1912 per gallon had
been paid for 2S55z gallons.
II this were true, it would, indeed, be "a
big gouge on the State" and would also
indicate clearly that Auditor Carr had
been guilty of the grossest carelessness in
drawing warrant upon the treasury on
such voucher. But as matter of fact,
the price paid for the strawberries was
$2.72 per bushel, and not 50 y per gallon,
as is shown by the voucher on file at the
Institution, copy of which is here given:
The State of Indiana, on account of the Hos
To JOHN PERSON, DR..
June 80. 2S51S bu. strawberries q s2.72 s77656.
In Duplicated
The State OF Indiana, Marion County.
count is correct and just and wholly unpaid;
that the exact consideration therein charged
for was received by the said hospital: that the
same or any part thereof has not been siucs
commuted; aud that neither bonus, commits
sion or any other consideration has been given
OF stipulated, within nay knowledge or belief,
therein set forth, or for any other reason.
JOHN PIERsON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this u
day OF July, 1887. ]. S. HALL,
SEAL Notary Public.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 8. 1887.
] hereby certify that the foregoing bill of &C.
John PiersOn. Book and sIoreKeeper.
S776.56.
Fer strawberries.
Audited by the board Of trustees aud an order
issued for payment, July :, 1887 from FUNDS
appropriated for maintenance.
IHos. II. HARRISON,
President of Board.
IT is possible that clerical error in the
duplicate voucher on file in the State Aud
itor's Office and which was printed by the
Journal may make il read 2S5% gal" in
stead of "2S512 on )" but the latter is cor
rect. The contract price was So cents'per
quart, at 81 cents per gallon, which the
Journal will see by q little mathem atical
calculation, would make just 1912 per
bushel. During the strawberry season the
institution consumed from sixteen to twenty
bu. daily, as Persons bill in detail shows.
This quantity does not seem large when it
is remembered that the Hospstal has 1000
inmat's and employees. They consume
SEQ bushels of potatoes and $4,000 pounds
Cf beef each month.